HC Deb 19 May 1930 vol 239 cc2-5
1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now state the cause of the recent disorders at Peshawar?

The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Wedgwood Benn)

As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, an inquiry into this matter has been ordered. I have just heard that the Government of India have to-day issued an official communiqué as to the composition and terms of reference of the Committee of Inquiry, which will begin its sittings on 26th May.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Will the House be informed of the results of this committee; and can my right hon. Friend tell me what led to the original trouble in Peshawar?

Mr. BENN

I cannot add anything to the communiqué which has been issued.

Mr. WARDLAW-MILNE

Is it not perfectly clear already that the trouble at Peshawar, as far as the troops were concerned, was due to Communist influences?

14. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will make a definite statement as to what actually occurred in connection with the reported disaffection of an Indian regiment at Peshawar?

Mr. BENN

The whole of the circumstances will be elucidated by the court-martial which is about to assemble; and, that being so, I hope hon. Members will not press me for any further statement until all the facts are known.

Sir A. KNOX

Will the findings of the court-martial, and the evidence, be published?

Mr. BENN

I cannot say.

Mr. BECKETT

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether, before any drastic penalties are carried out on these troops, the Home Government will be consulted?

Mr. SPEAKER

Mr. Graham White.

Mr. BECKETT

On a point of Order. May I ask, Sir, how my supplementary question was out of order?

Mr. SPEAKER

We cannot grow a sort of tree, with branches upon it, on every question. We must stick to the point raised in the question on the Paper.

19. Sir ASSHETON POWNALL

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now any further information with regard to the Communist activities in connection with the recent disturbances at Peshawar?

Mr. BENN

I have no further information regarding the earlier events at Peshawar than that contained in the Government of India's communique of 5th May. A report regarding more recent events at Peshawar refers to the activities of a red-shirts' organisation which has been declared an unlawful association.

Earl WINTERTON

Has the right hon. Gentleman yet been able to obtain the information he promised me he would obtain?

Mr. BENN

No, I have not had a reply. I think the inquiry went by mail. I hope the Noble Lord will not think that dilatory, but they have a great deal to think about just now.

20. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWN

asked the Secretary of State for India whether martial law is still being applied to Sholapur; how far does it apply to the districts outside the city; and whether any other parts of India have been put under martial law?

Mr. BENN

Yes, Sir. The Martial Law Ordinance promulgated on 16th May applies in the first instance only to the municipal limits of the town, but the Government of India have power to extend it by notification to any other area in the District of Sholapur. So far as I know, this has not been done. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Brigadier-General BROWN

Will not the Government of India apply martial law to the whole of the Bombay Presidency and stop fooling about with revolution and anarchy?

Mr. BROCKWAY

Under martial law at Sholapur, have there not been public floggings of Indians?

Mr. BENN

I cannot say. I have seen reports in the Press, but I have no information.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

What is there in the part you are playing just now that Lord Birkenhead would not have played if he had been on the job?

25. Mr. THURTLE

asked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to the fact that British troops in Sholapur have been removing Gandhi caps from the heads of wearers in the public streets on the ground that the wearing of such caps was provocative; and if he has any statement to make on the matter?

24. Mr. MARDY JONES

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the conduct of lorry loads of British soldiers who parade the streets of Sholapur armed with thin sticks with a hooked end with which they lift off the Gandhi caps worn by passers-by; and can he state if steps are being taken by the Government of India to put a stop to this conduct?

Mr. BENN

I have ascertained that the story of the removal of these caps by soldiers is untrue.

Mr. THURTLE

Have any representations been made to Reuter's agent as to the undesirability of circulating untrue reports of this kind?

Mr. BENN

I have no doubt notice will be taken of my reply this afternoon.

Back to
Forward to